Northern Metropolitan Zone of PCAV Inc

Child Safe Standards 2017

Pony Club Victoria is committed to the safety and well-being of all children.

Pony Club Victoria is committed to providing an environment where children are safe and feel safe, where their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. We listen to their views and respect what they have to say.

Many of you may already be aware of the Child Safe Standards that have been mandated as a result of the 2012 Victorian Government inquiry into the handling of child abuse allegations within religious and other non-government organisations. The key recommendation of the report entitled Betrayal of Trust was the creation of Child Safe Standards

Child abuse is defined as:

Sexual abuse (including grooming , with the intent to sexually harm a child)

Physical abuse or violence

Serious psychological or emotional abuse

Serious neglect

It is important to understand what the definition of child abuse is BUT Clubs need to focus on strategies that will prevent the child abuse rather than using the actual definition words. Clubs need to focus on the importance of creating a POSITIVE child safe culture.

Child Safe Standards apply to sporting organisations that operate and provide sporting services to children within Victoria (including National Sporting Organisations). The Standards apply to organisations as a whole, not only the areas that work with children.

The Standards apply to all personnel in the organisation. Including:

Board of Management / Committee Members

All paid staff (CEO, Executive, Employees)

All Volunteers (Coaches, officials, administrators, scorers etc)

All students on placement

Any contractors you engage

There are many components required to build a culture of child safety. Child safety is not an add-on or one-off exercise, it is about developing a culture of child safety within the organisation.

The seven standards in the table below must be applied in a manner that promotes:
1| The cultural safety of Aboriginal children
2| The cultural safety of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds
3| The safety of children with a disability

Victorian law requires organisations that work with children to meet the Child Safe Standards by 1 January 2017.
Pony Club Victoria Clubs must meet the Child Safe Standards listed in the table below.

Template Resources are being developed by Vicsport with the support of the Victorian Government and will be made available on the PCV website to assist clubs to embed a child safe culture in their club.
Follow the steps in the table below using the links to resources to create a child safe culture in your club. The first step is to ensure the steps that have already been implemented by Pony Club Victoria are ticked off.

What your club can do now:

Ensure all coaches are registered with Pony Club Victoria and have a current WWWC.

Ensure all Club Supporing members are registered on your database and have a WWWC if over 18yrs.